My last two semesters have been a whirlwind of once in a lifetime adventures! As a part of the Global Bachelor’s International Degree Program, I spent last spring studying at Fudan University in Shanghai, China and immersing myself in a culture completely different to my own. While in China I traveled extensively, visiting the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, hiking Mount Hua, one of China’s sacred mountains, and walking the Great Wall in Beijing! I took classes outside of my major to explore new topics and most enjoyed International Political Economics, where we discussed the future of Asian economies and the influence of Asia on the world market. Although all of my classes were in english, I dabbled in Mandarin and could successfully order myself food in a restaurant! This semester I have been studying in Santiago, Chile at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, taking classes focused on my Latin American Studies major and Spanish minor. My favorite class here has been Historical Memories, where we discuss Augusto Pinochet’s rise to power and what happened in Chile during his dictatorship. I also completed an internship with TECHO, an NGO that works to build affordable housing in Chile and many other countries. Chile is a beautiful country, and I recently returned from hiking the week long W trek in Torres del Paine National Park, one of the top ten hikes in the world. Next semester I will continue on this incredible study abroad experience in Quito, Ecuador at Universidad San Francisco de Quito. I could not be more excited for the adventures ahead! All of these experiences are only possible thanks to MVYouth and all of your help and I am endlessly grateful! Here’s to another year of adventures for all!

During my third semester at GW, I took advantage of George Washington University’s close proximity to Capitol Hill by interning in the U.S. House of Representatives with Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY12). I attended briefings, replied to constituent letters, and frequently got lost in the tunnels under the U.S. Capitol building. On top of my internship, I took classes that both challenged and interested me, including Brazil Rising, which analyzed the history and future of Brazil. I also joined a professional community service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, that connects students to community service sites around DC. With APO, I completed 36 hours of community service this semester. The end of the semester was bittersweet, as I will not return to GW until senior year. Instead, I will take part in the Global Bachelor’s Program and study abroad for three consecutive semesters. I will start this journey in February at Fudan University in Shanghai, China. My following two destinations are to be decided. MVYouth provided me with the possibility to do all of these amazing things. A thank you will never be enough to explain how grateful I am to go to GW, and it’s all thanks to your help!

My first year at The George Washington University has been full of crazy ups and downs. Moving from Martha’s Vineyard to a bustling city was difficult, but I have had some amazing experiences in DC. I was standing outside the White House when the results to one of the most historic presidential elections were announced. I watched comedian Seth Meyers live during his first ever shows in DC, scored tickets to the National Christmas Tree Lighting, and traveled to the Library of Congress to fulfill an assignment. In my classes, we had the opportunity to see some outstanding speakers, such as Senator Bernie Sanders and National Security Council Press Spokesperson Emily Horne. My professors are ambassadors and authors and qualified beyond belief. I would not have had these opportunities if not for the generosity of MVYouth and I will be forever grateful that you all have allowed me to go to my dream school in the heart of our nation. I can't wait to see what the next three years have in store for me.